Negeri Sembilan FC coach says narrow loss to JDT shows where his team must improve, focusing on mental resilience and game control until the final whistle.
SEREMBAN: Facing champions like Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) is a test of both physical and mental strength, according to Negeri Sembilan FC (NSFC) head coach Mohd Nidzam Jamil.
He said his team’s narrow 0-1 defeat to JDT provided a crucial lesson in maintaining focus, intensity and control for the full duration of a match.
“Top-level players require strong concentration from minute to minute,” Nidzam told reporters after the Super League match at Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman Paroi.
He stated that the difference was JDT’s ability to sustain intensity until the end due to their superior development process.
“In football, if you do not go through those phases, you will be punished. It is a bitter truth to swallow, but the team needs to learn to become ‘big boys’ in this league,” he added.
Nidzam praised his players’ commitment, saying they fought until the final whistle.
He declined to elaborate on the referee’s decision to play beyond the stipulated seven minutes of added time, which saw JDT score the winning goal in the 98th minute.
“I don’t hold the whistle… I’m not sure, maybe the timing was different, everyone’s watch is different, but we need to stay positive,” Nidzam said.
He emphasised that the focus should be on his team’s performance rather than external factors.
“The issue is that we must stay focused. We can’t control the referee, we can’t control the environment,” he explained.
Commenting on tensions among supporters, Nidzam advised against turning football into a platform for hostility.
He reminded that many fans attend matches with children who observe and judge the sport’s culture.
